When it comes to easy summer side dishes, this Cold Tortellini Salad is guaranteed to be a crowd favorite! Made with cheesy tortellini, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, juicy grape tomatoes, and a creamy ranch dressing, this pasta salad is packed with bold flavor and delicious texture in every bite. It's hearty enough to satisfy while still feeling light and refreshing, making it the ultimate addition to any picnic, potluck, or upcoming summer gathering.
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This easy tortellini salad is ideal for making ahead of time, which makes entertaining so much simpler. In fact, the flavors get even better after chilling in the refrigerator, making it perfect for busy weeks and last-minute get-togethers. Serve it cold straight from the fridge for the freshest flavor and texture. This creamy bacon ranch tortellini salad pairs well with almost any summer dinner and is always one of the first dishes to disappear.
If you're looking for more easy pasta salad recipes, try this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad or this BLT Pasta Salad. Need something to serve with this recipe? Try these delicious Homemade Smash Burgers or Tropical Chicken.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Make-ahead friendly: This salad tastes even better after chilling in the refrigerator, making it perfect for prepping ahead of parties or potlucks. If you're serving it outdoors, a chilled serving bowl can help keep it cool and fresh longer.
- Made with simple ingredients: You only need a handful of easy-to-find ingredients to make this satisfying dish!
- Perfect crowd pleaser: This hearty tortellini salad is always a hit at picnics, barbecues, or any large summer gatherings. Pair it with my Dorito Taco Salad for an easy, flavor-packed spread that's perfect for feeding a crowd.
- Easy to customize: Whether you add extra vegetables or different proteins, this recipe is super versatile and easy to make your own.
- Loaded with flavor: Savory bacon, cheesy tortellini, and tangy ranch dressing come together with fresh veggies to make a flavor-packed summer salad.
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make this ranch tortellini salad!
- Romaine lettuce head: Use a large head of lettuce and chop it into uniform, bite-size pieces.
- Cheese tortellini: Prepare it according to package directions and cool before using. Refrigerated tortellini is the easiest to prepare, but frozen tortellini works too.
- Bacon: Cut it into small pieces and cook until it's crispy. Then, drain the fat before adding.You can use bacon bits from the grocery store but fresh-cooked tastes the best.
- Grape tomatoes: Cut these in half before adding.
- Ranch dressing: You can use homemade or store-bought dressing.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Tortellini varieties: You can use any kind of tortellini for this recipe, whether it's a spinach and herb, four cheese, or meat variety.
- Italian spin: For a salad with more Italian flavor, swap out the ranch dressing for Italian and add chopped olives, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes.
- Vegetable add-ins: Add peas, chopped olives, cucumbers, peppers, red onion, diced avocado, and any other fresh herbs if you want more veggies!
- Bacon swaps: Bacon could be swapped for pepperoni, salami, or any other protein.
- Cheese lovers: Add parmesan cheese, feta cheese, or mozzarella for more cheesiness!
- Chicken bacon ranch salad: Try adding in some cooked chicken breast and cheddar for a chicken, bacon, ranch style salad.
How to Make Cold Tortellini Salad
Once you've gathered all your ingredients, grab a dish or bowl and follow the steps below for this cheese tortellini salad.
- Step 1: In a 9x13-inch dish, place lettuce in the bottom and top with sliced tomatoes.
- Step 2: Next, layer the prepared tortellini on top of the tomatoes.
- Step 3: Finish by drizzling ranch dressing over top followed by bacon bits.
- Step 4: Serve immediately and enjoy.
Helpful Tips
- Cook tortellini just until al dente: Be sure not to overcook your pasta to prevent it from getting mushy in the salad.
- Wait to add ingredients: If you're making this recipe ahead of time, keep the bacon and ranch dressing separate right until you serve to keep the salad crisp and fresh.
- Let bacon cool completely before adding it: This helps it stay crispy instead of softening in the salad.
- Cool the tortellini completely before assembling: Warm tortellini can wilt the lettuce and make the salad soggy.
- Dry lettuce thoroughly: Be sure your romaine is completely dry after washing so excess moisture doesn't water down the salad. A good salad spinner makes this step so much easier to quickly dry lettuce and keep it crisp and fresh.
- Serve right after assembling: This salad tastes best when the lettuce is crisp, the bacon is crunchy, and the dressing is freshly added.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! This salad is perfect for making in advance before events or busy weeks. It even tastes better after chilling in the fridge for a few hours. For the freshest taste, store your bacon and ranch separately from the salad right until you serve it.
Yes, rinsing cooked tortellini under cold water is a great way to quickly cool it down and stop the cooking process. This helps keep the pasta from becoming too soft in the salad.
Absolutely! Frozen cheese tortellini works great in this recipe. Simply cook according to package directions and allow it to cool completely before assembling the salad.
Be sure to drain your tortellini well after cooking, avoid going overboard with the dressing, and drying any wet ingredients like vegetables before adding.
Cold tortellini salad pairs well with homemade smash burgers, air fryer BBQ ribs, tropical chicken, or as a side dish for potlucks and summer cookouts.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Storage Instructions
To store your salad, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. The dressing can make the lettuce in the salad soggy so it may not store for longer than that.
Freezing Instructions
This salad doesn't freeze the best so it's recommended to be made fresh or store in the refrigerator.
More Cold Pasta Salad Recipes You'll Love
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Cold Tortellini Salad
Ingredients
- 1 large romaine lettuce head (chopped into bite-size pieces)
- 20 ounce bag cheese tortellini (prepared according to package directions and cooled)
- 4 ounces bacon (cut into small pieces and cooked until crispy, drain fat)
- ½ cup halved grape tomatoes
- ½ cup ranch dressing
Instructions
- In a 9x13-inch dish, place lettuce in the bottom and top with sliced tomatoes.
- layer the prepared tortellini on top of the tomatoes.
- Drizzle ranch dressing over top followed by bacon bits.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- Cook tortellini just until al dente: Be sure not to overcook your pasta to prevent it from getting mushy in the salad.
- Wait to add ingredients: If you're making this recipe ahead of time, keep the bacon and ranch dressing separate right until you serve to keep the salad crisp and fresh.
- Let bacon cool completely before adding it: This helps it stay crispy instead of softening in the salad.
- Cool the tortellini completely before assembling: Warm tortellini can wilt the lettuce and make the salad soggy.
- Dry lettuce thoroughly: Be sure your romaine is completely dry after washing so excess moisture doesn't water down the salad.
- Serve right after assembling: This salad tastes best when the lettuce is crisp, the bacon is crunchy, and the dressing is freshly added.
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